The Rebel Archetype We have all wanted to live by our own rules and done something we know we were not supposed to do. Imagine living the lives of characters like Captain Jack Sparrow, Ferris Bueller, or even Vincent Van Gogh. All of these people broke the rules and chose to make their own paths. Living the life of a rebel includes being strong-willed and standing up for what you believe in. Resisting to any other power, such as a government or leader, is also being a rebel. The "rebel" archetype has been used in pop culture, world mythology, literature, and even real life. It brings danger, wildness, and slyness into stories and life. The idea of being rebellious consists of playing by your own rules and standing up to the man who has captured the attention of society for years. The rebel archetype can be found in many stories and almost everywhere in our daily lives.
Other Rebel Archetype: Captain Jack Sparrow“Pirates of the Caribbean” is a great pirate movie that attracts all ages. One of the reasons why people love it so much is because of the characters in the movie. People love Captain Jack Sparrow in particular. There are many reasons why people love Captain Jack Sparrow, but most people love him because he is the carefree rebel. Captain Jack fits the archetype of a rebel because he plays by his own rules and listens to no one. He fights the way he wants to fight, although it might not always be fair. He is free spirited, lovable, loath, and a trickster. People like the rebel Captain Jack Sparrow for these reasons.
sparrow.jpg captain jack sparrow image by aleelah
A Real Life Rebel Archetype: Vincent Van GoghVincent Van Gogh was a very good example of a rebel archetype. He was an artist that was put down for everything he did. But he kept on pursuing his interest in art. Vincent Van Gogh’s uncle, Cornelius Marinus, asked him to do draw for one of his galleries. Vincent Van Gogh’s work was far below his uncle’s expectations. He drew many single figures and self-portraits, but they were criticized by the public. People rebelled against Van Gogh by putting him down and constantly criticizing him. But, Vincent Van Gogh rebelled by not halting his career and continuing to do what he loved to do, even though everyone was against him. When he drew multi-figure compositions, his own brother put him down. This was hard for Van Gogh. He began rebelling against himself by destroying many of his paintings and by deciding to improve his art skills. But, Vincent Van Gogh’s depression eventually led him to commit suicide. His works of art did not become popular until after his death, and now, people consider him to be one of the greatest artists of all time.
Real Life Rebel: Martin Luther King Jr.Martin Luther King Junior fits the rebel archetype very well. He rebelled against segregationistsby having peaceful boycotts and protests. He was arrested many times and abused physically and emotionally. Also, His home was bombed. Despite all the people against him, he kept on rebelling by leading more peaceful protests. Martin Luther King Junior also wrote a few books that inspired black people to rebel with him and support what he was fighting for. He became president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a group that elected new leaders to fight for civil rights. Martin Luther King Junior delivered many speeches, and one of them, I Had a Dream, showed everyone that the peaceful fight for civil rights was working. He won the Nobel Peace Prize and was given $54,123, which he used for the progress of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Junior rebelled in every peaceful way possible. He was also rebelling against violence in the world with his peaceful protests. He tried to show the world that violence was not the answer and that there were better methods of solving problems. He believed that violence could be hurtful to some people and that no one should be hurt because every single human life is sacred. Martin Luther King Junior is a perfect example of a rebel because he rebelled for the good of the world.
Pop Culture Rebel Archetype: Kat Stratford “10 Things I Hate About You” is a 90’s teen movie and a modernized TV spinoff about a girl Bianca and her sister Kat. Bianca’s father won't let her date until her older sister Kat does, but Bianca knows that her sister will never have a boyfriend. Kat is a rebel without a cause because she will fight for anything she believes in. Kat is not what people would consider popular, but she does not worry about that. she doesn’t care what people think or say about her. Some say that Kat is a mean-spirited misanthropy. So, to solve her problem, Bianca tries to make Kat fall in love with a new student at their school who may be just as bitter as she is. This example suggests that Kat is a rebel because she stands up for what she thinks is right no matter what obstacles are in her way.
Pop Culture Rebel Archetype: Ferris Bueller
It is almost impossible not to love the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”! Everyone who sees it gets wrapped up in the life of Ferris. Ferris Bueller is the coolest kid in school and is also the nicest and smartest. But Ferris Bueller is also a rebel. He isn’t the type of rebel that is a criminal or that defies society but he plays by his own rules. The trickster will do anything just to miss one day of school, adding on to his list of many missed days. He tricks people into thinking he is a sweet innocent boy but underneath, he is quite mischievous. Ferris doesn’t listen to his principle or his parents; he just wants to have fun. And in the end, he ends up getting away with everything.
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Another Rebel Archetype Example: Guy Montag Guy Montag, from Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, does not begin the book as a rebel. Every day, his job (a fireman) requires him to start fires, and he has had this job for 10 years. In the novel, firemen's jobs are to burn any literature, and people who hide books from the firemen are taken to places similar to mental facilities. Guy Montag lives in a future world, a world taken over by technology, and his curiosity is stimulated when he meets Clarisse. Clarisse tells him about times when people used to read books all the time. Guy becomes a rebel because he begins questioning his people's ways and saving books. He reads a poem to his wife's friends when they are visiting, and he burns down his own house with his boss Chief Beatty still inside it. Then, Guy becomes a fugitive and escapes to the river outside the city he lives in. While running away, he meets professors and writers who have also rebelled against their society and fled. Together, they read and memorize books as they hide from their pursuers. Guy Montag becomes a rebel by going against the government's beliefs. He tries to understand the reason why things were different in the past.
World Mythology Rebel Archetype: Robin Hood Robin Hood is a world mythology example of the archetype of the rebel. A hero in English folklore and around the world, Robin Hood is an outlaw and a highly skilled archer. He is mischievous, sly, cunning, and adventurous. Robin is always up for a challenge and ready to cause trouble, whether it is taking part in an archery contest or kidnapping someone. Robin Hood and his band of "Merry Men" are well known for "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor." This action implies that he is a rebel. He forms a group outlaws in order to rebel against the power and tyranny of Prince John, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Sir Guy of Gisbourne. Robin Hood fights for the poor, gives to the poor, and helps the poor because he feels that there is injustice and tyranny. His Merry Men and he rebelled against the powerful figures and villains of their land.
The Rebel Archetype
We have all wanted to live by our own rules and done something we know we were not supposed to do. Imagine living the lives of characters like Captain Jack Sparrow, Ferris Bueller, or even Vincent Van Gogh. All of these people broke the rules and chose to make their own paths. Living the life of a rebel includes being strong-willed and standing up for what you believe in. Resisting to any other power, such as a government or leader, is also being a rebel. The "rebel" archetype has been used in pop culture, world mythology, literature, and even real life. It brings danger, wildness, and slyness into stories and life. The idea of being rebellious consists of playing by your own rules and standing up to the man who has captured the attention of society for years. The rebel archetype can be found in many stories and almost everywhere in our daily lives.
Other Rebel Archetype: Captain Jack Sparrow“Pirates of the Caribbean” is a great pirate movie that attracts all ages. One of the reasons why people love it so much is because of the characters in the movie. People love Captain Jack Sparrow in particular. There are many reasons why people love Captain Jack Sparrow, but most people love him because he is the carefree rebel. Captain Jack fits the archetype of a rebel because he plays by his own rules and listens to no one. He fights the way he wants to fight, although it might not always be fair. He is free spirited, lovable, loath, and a trickster. People like the rebel Captain Jack Sparrow for these reasons.
A Real Life Rebel Archetype: Vincent Van GoghVincent Van Gogh was a very good example of a rebel archetype. He was an artist that was put down for everything he did. But he kept on pursuing his interest in art. Vincent Van Gogh’s uncle, Cornelius Marinus, asked him to do draw for one of his galleries. Vincent Van Gogh’s work was far below his uncle’s expectations. He drew many single figures and self-portraits, but they were criticized by the public. People rebelled against Van Gogh by putting him down and constantly criticizing him. But, Vincent Van Gogh rebelled by not halting his career and continuing to do what he loved to do, even though everyone was against him. When he drew multi-figure compositions, his own brother put him down. This was hard for Van Gogh. He began rebelling against himself by destroying many of his paintings and by deciding to improve his art skills. But, Vincent Van Gogh’s depression eventually led him to commit suicide. His works of art did not become popular until after his death, and now, people consider him to be one of the greatest artists of all time.
Real Life Rebel: Martin Luther King Jr.Martin Luther King Junior fits the rebel archetype very well. He rebelled against segregationists by having peaceful boycotts and protests. He was arrested many times and abused physically and emotionally. Also, His home was bombed. Despite all the people against him, he kept on rebelling by leading more peaceful protests. Martin Luther King Junior also wrote a few books that inspired black people to rebel with him and support what he was fighting for. He became president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a group that elected new leaders to fight for civil rights. Martin Luther King Junior delivered many speeches, and one of them, I Had a Dream, showed everyone that the peaceful fight for civil rights was working. He won the Nobel Peace Prize and was given $54,123, which he used for the progress of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Junior rebelled in every peaceful way possible. He was also rebelling against violence in the world with his peaceful protests. He tried to show the world that violence was not the answer and that there were better methods of solving problems. He believed that violence could be hurtful to some people and that no one should be hurt because every single human life is sacred. Martin Luther King Junior is a perfect example of a rebel because he rebelled for the good of the world.
Pop Culture Rebel Archetype: Kat Stratford
“10 Things I Hate About You” is a 90’s teen movie and a modernized TV spinoff about a girl Bianca and her sister Kat. Bianca’s father won't let her date until her older sister Kat does, but Bianca knows that her sister will never have a boyfriend. Kat is a rebel without a cause because she will fight for anything she believes in. Kat is not what people would consider popular, but she does not worry about that. she doesn’t care what people think or say about her. Some say that Kat is a mean-spirited misanthropy. So, to solve her problem, Bianca tries to make Kat fall in love with a new student at their school who may be just as bitter as she is. This example suggests that Kat is a rebel because she stands up for what she thinks is right no matter what obstacles are in her way.
Pop Culture Rebel Archetype: Ferris Bueller
It is almost impossible not to love the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”! Everyone who sees it gets wrapped up in the life of Ferris. Ferris Bueller is the coolest kid in school and is also the nicest and smartest. But Ferris Bueller is also a rebel. He isn’t the type of rebel that is a criminal or that defies society but he plays by his own rules. The trickster will do anything just to miss one day of school, adding on to his list of many missed days. He tricks people into thinking he is a sweet innocent boy but underneath, he is quite mischievous. Ferris doesn’t listen to his principle or his parents; he just wants to have fun. And in the end, he ends up getting away with everything.
Another Rebel Archetype Example: Guy Montag
Guy Montag, from Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, does not begin the book as a rebel. Every day, his job (a fireman) requires him to start fires, and he has had this job for 10 years. In the novel, firemen's jobs are to burn any literature, and people who hide books from the firemen are taken to places similar to mental facilities. Guy Montag lives in a future world, a world taken over by technology, and his curiosity is stimulated when he meets Clarisse. Clarisse tells him about times when people used to read books all the time. Guy becomes a rebel because he begins questioning his people's ways and saving books. He reads a poem to his wife's friends when they are visiting, and he burns down his own house with his boss Chief Beatty still inside it. Then, Guy becomes a fugitive and escapes to the river outside the city he lives in. While running away, he meets professors and writers who have also rebelled against their society and fled. Together, they read and memorize books as they hide from their pursuers. Guy Montag becomes a rebel by going against the government's beliefs. He tries to understand the reason why things were different in the past.
World Mythology Rebel Archetype: Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a world mythology example of the archetype of the rebel. A hero in English folklore and around the world, Robin Hood is an outlaw and a highly skilled archer. He is mischievous, sly, cunning, and adventurous. Robin is always up for a challenge and ready to cause trouble, whether it is taking part in an archery contest or kidnapping someone. Robin Hood and his band of "Merry Men" are well known for "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor." This action implies that he is a rebel. He forms a group outlaws in order to rebel against the power and tyranny of Prince John, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Sir Guy of Gisbourne. Robin Hood fights for the poor, gives to the poor, and helps the poor because he feels that there is injustice and tyranny. His Merry Men and he rebelled against the powerful figures and villains of their land.
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